Child Development

Alishia Atkins, Ed.M.

Program Coordinator

​The Child Development Program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); it is the premier accrediting and advocacy organization for early childhood education programs and teachers. ​​​​​​

Full Description

The Child Development Program at Kennedy-King College provides an excellent starting point for a career in education. The A.A.S. degree and Advanced Certificate seekers receive knowledgeable instruction, methodology and insight in all aspects of developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children.​

​Child Development Program: Student Requirements

Students enrolled in the
Child Development Program are required to complete field experience hours in
all Child Development courses.

Background Check/
Physical: All students (volunteers)
are required to complete field experience hours at a facility requiring the
completion of a background check and health physical, as mandated by the
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The financial cost
associated with a background check is the responsibility of each student enrolled
in the course. Background checks, and health physicals are current for
one full calendar year. The State of IL now requires all volunteers or
non-employees to pay for all fees associated with background checks. Please
follow each facility’s guidelines for the background check and health physical
requirements. If a student has an adverse background, he or she must consider
the impact of this factor on his or her completion of the Child Development
Program, and/or future employment opportunities.

Documentation
Requirements: All students
participating in a field experience opportunity for Child Development courses
must complete the following:

·Background Check (Please follow the child
care facility’s guidelines. The background check is usually valid for at least
one calendar year.)

·Physical (Please follow the child care
facility’s guidelines. The health physical is usually valid for at least one
calendar year.)

At the start of each semester, course instructors will provide forms
for the required documents listed below.

·A facility information sheet

·Time log (The classroom teacher at the
specified facility must initial next to each day/hour(s) of attendance.)

·Signed field experience completion form
by the director, principal, or supervisor of the educational facility.​

Child Development 259, Practicum in Preschool Education, is
the terminal course in the Child Development Program. In order to enroll
in the Practicum course, every eligible student must complete a Practicum
application. In addition, students must attend a mandatory orientation
after the application has been reviewed, and approved.

The Practicum Supervisor
will contact eligible students with all information regarding the date and
location of the orientation session. Students who have completed all
of the required Child Development core coursework, with a grade of “C” or
better, are eligible to apply for the Child Development 259 course.

Applications will be available by accessing the attached application below.

Applications for students seeking enrollment in a Spring practicum must submit the application no later than the last Monday of the month of November.

Applicatons for students seeking enrollment in a Fall practicum must submit​ the application no later than the last Monday of the month of March.​

City Colleges of Chicago does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability in all educational
and vocational programs, services, activities, and employment. EEO Office